Jeffrey Hedgecock, Order of the Crescent

Residence: Ramona, California USA / Nationality: American

Began Jousting in 2003

Day job -  Armourer, President, Historic Enterprises, Inc.

Motto: 'Honneur seurlement entre egaux' (Honour only among equals)

A lifelong passion for all things medieval led Jeffrey Hedgecock to a career  as an armourer, and an avocation in jousting. As a world renowned armourer, Jeffrey has produced pieces for descriminating high-profile clients around the globe and demonstrated his armouring techniques in 2005 at the Royal Armouries Museum. Jeff and crew made the armour for the cult classic "Army of Darkness', and more recently Jeff has appeared on TV in programmes such as "Modern Marvels', Mail Call' and 'The Worst Jobs in History'. Jeff has jousted in England, France, Belgium, Scotland, New Zealand, Holland and at home in California. Jeffrey also teaches jousting and medieval horsemanship to students all across north America.

Tobias Capwell, Order of the Crescent

Residence: London, England / Nationality: American

Began Jousting in 1993

Day job - Museum Curator (Arms & Armour), Author, TV Presenter

Motto: 'Je vive en espoir' (I live in hope)

An internationally-acknowledged expert on medieval and Renaissance arms and armour, Toby Capwell is the Curator of Arms and Armour at the Wallace Collection in London, one of the world’s great museum collections. He has written many books and articles, and is often seen on television, most recently in ‘The Greatest Knight’ and ‘Private Life of an Easter Masterpiece: The Taking of Christ’ (BBC).

The world’s only jousting curator, Toby competes in tournaments all over the world. In 2008 Toby organized a ‘passage of arms’ for the Historical Museum in Bern, Switzerland. This event required Toby to run 132 joust ‘courses’ in eleven consecutive days.

He is a founding member of The Order of the Crescent of which he has been Captain since its formation in 2005. This is the Order’s first appearance outside of England

Dominic Sewell, Order of the Crescent

Residence: Peterborough, England / Nationality: English

Began Jousting in 2001

Day job - Sir Harry Smith Community College, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire.

Motto: 'Speas mea in Deo' (Trust in God)

A tournamenter and horseman of international reputation, Dominic has participated in tournaments all across Europe. He participated in English Heritage's 'Knight's Tournament', and has portrayed a Norman lord, 15th C. knight, Elizabethan nobleman and Edwardian man of leisure at displays all across England. He has probably portrayed St. George more frequently than any horseman in England.

A teacher by day, Dominic keeps busy with TV, film and print work on the weekends. As the owner of Historic Equitation, he trains horses and their riders for activities such as jousting, skill at arms and hunting.

Arne Koets, Holland

Residence: Delft, Holland (Netherlands) / Nationality: Dutch

Began Jousting in 2002

Day job - Project Manager for Presentation and Education at the Royal Dutch Army Museum.

Motto: 'Resitere Est Futilus (Resistance is futile)

Arne claims his fascination with military history began before he could read. By 5, he was involved in table top role play, and at 16 he lied about his age to gain entry to battlefield reenactments. A grand tour of English castles in 1999 included a trip to the Royal Armouries, where the 'two handed sword' demonstration introduced him to the historical fight manuals.

By 2000, fighting on foot no longer was enough, and he learned to ride to pursue jousting. Jousting practice involved a monthly 1,250 mile round trip from Amsterdam to England, but it paid off when after just over 5 months of training he competed in his first joust and won.

After that Arne's career snowballed. He began jousting with English Heritage regularly, and in 2003 competed at the Royal Armouries Sword of Honour joust as part of the winning Burgundian team. Arne began jousting full time as part of the interpretive program at Archeon in Holland. He was part of the Royal Armouries' interpretive team from 2006, and early in 2009 was offered a project manager position at the Lagermuseum in his native Holland.

Andreas Wenzel, Germany

Residence: England / Nationality: German

Began Jousting in 2005

Day job - European Distribution Director for a petrol industry supply company

Motto: Quanti adversarii, tantus honor (As much enemy, that much honour)

To experience what the medieval warrior has experienced has been Andreas’ aim for more than 10 years. This has lead him to study the sabre at one of Germany’s oldest fencing clubs, learn and teach the art of sword play through all medieval periods, learn how to ride horses, and train with axes, hammers, glaives and bills. After moving to England Andreas had the privilege to join Europe’s leading medieval mounted display team (Destrier), joust with solid lances, and co-command a cavalry unit at Europe’s largest battle re-enactment at Hastings 2006. Andreas’ passion for medieval warfare remains unabated, and he loves touring from event to event.

Photos courtesy of Andreas Wenzel, Chris Vinten, Roger Bamber, and Chris, Emma and Richard Pearn.

Steve Gagnon, Canada

Residence: St-Colomban, Québec Canada / Nationality: Canadian (Quebec)

Began Jousting in 2001

Day job - Advertising Art Director

Motto: 'Ubi tenebræ sunt, ego sum' ( Where the darkness is, I am)

History, horses and tournaments are more than a hobby for Steve, they are his true passion. Over the last 10 years he has honed his horseman and jousting skills as the creator and producer of several equestrian shows, and his black clad figure has become well known to Québec fans. Steve or his horses are also seen in action in advertising for movies such as ‘Days of Darkness’ by Denys Arcand.

Steve will realize his goal to expand historical jousting in North America this year when his 7 year old International Medieval Fair of St-Colomban event features world class jousting and archery tournaments.

Jeremy "Jezz" Smith, New Zealand

Residence: Pukekoe, New Zealand/ Nationality: English

Began Jousting in 2004

Day job - Stonemason, specializing in historical stonework.

Motto: 'Firmitas et Fortitudo' (Strength and Courage)

Jeremy (Jezz) Smith was born in England but emigrated to NZ in 1988. He started jousting in 2004 when he became bored with the conventional horse sports he had been involved in. In 2005, he helped establish 'The Company of the Lance', to bring jousting to Auckland. Since then he has traveled to many countries to compete including Australia, Belgium, Poland, France and the US.

Jezz is a member of 'The Order of the Black Rose", along with team mates Graham Nixon and Simon Tennant. The Order of the Black Rose was formed in 2006 as a NZ team to compete against an Australian team at a tournament held in Lithgow, Australia. Jezz is proud to display the black rose badge as an achievement on his shield.

Jezz has been involved in a number of high-risk sports including motorcycle racing, sled dog racing and endurance riding, as well as archery, black powder shooting, hunting and fishing. Joust training and amour making currently consume his spare time.

Jaroslaw "Jarek" Struczynski, Poland

Residence: Gniew, Poland / Nationality: Polish

Began Jousting in 2006

Day job - Member of the Board: Gniew Castle Foundation.

Motto: '"Deo omnis Gloria" (All glory to God)

Having instigated the reconstruction and regeneration of Gniew Castle in 1992 Jarek has led to its transformation into one of Poland's leading centres for historical re-enactment and the cultivation of past traditions. He has devised and organized numerous international military/historical events and is founder of several re-enactment groups showcasing periods from the 15th to the 17th century.

He is co-organizer of the largest re-enactment event in Poland (The Battle of Tannenberg 1410) and is co-founder and Marshall of the Chapter General of Polish Knights. Jarek has been instrumental in setting up jousting tournaments in Poland and is a founder member of the Gregorian choir Schola Cantorum Gymevensis. He has participated in many productions for theatre and television promoting cultural and historical awareness, and is a member of the IJL Board of Representatives.